Green Housing for ALL RFPGreen Housing for ALL: Architectural Design Competion
Invitation for Designs
Sponsored: City of Northampton
Co-sponsored: AIA Western Masschusetts
With support: BSA Foundation
Objective:
Eligibility:
Submission includes:
Program specifics:
Prizes:
Commission:
Schedule:
Rights:
Design three units of affordable green housing on small, suburban lots.
Demonstrate the ability to make Net Energy Plus Buildings affordable.
All teams must include at least one registered architect. Other disciplines
are encouraged but not required (e.g., landscape architects, builders).
1.Two 24” x 36” landscape formated plans mounted on foam core.
2. A PDF file of the plans.
3. $100 entry fee for each design
4. Optional: Any relevant supporting materials and/or physical models.
1.Two 800 square feet or smaller two-bedroom units.
Use zero lot line or common wall between the units.
Units should have same design or be mirror images.
2. One 800-1,200 square feet two or three bedroom unit
3.No garage or basement on any unit (sheds and small outbuildings allowed)
4. Address the layout and performance criteria (next page)
5. Be likely to be buildable by a developer for an average cost of $200,000
per unit, excluding land and site development costs
First place: $1,500; Second place: $1,000; Third place: $500
Judging will be by an outside panel of judges.
The City will be donating three lots for affordable housing. The city intends
to hire an architect from those entering the competition for a $45,000
commission after we sell at least two market rate lots, assuming a successful
contract negotiation, to 1) design all three homes 2) oversee the
construction at key inspection points.
Proposals due: January 2, 2018.
All designs will be exhibited and prizes announced,Feb. 6-10 at APE Gallery,
Main St, Northampton. Reception Friday Feb. 9th at 6:00 PM.
The City has the right to reprodue the drawings on its website, in the media,
and in any format. Creative rights remain the property of the submitter.
Wayne Feiden, FAICP, City of Northampton, Planning & Sustainability
wfeiden@northamptonma.gov, 210 Main St, Northampton, MA 01060
Questions & Submission:
Building energy performancy: Must include, at a minimum, R30 walls, R60 attic, and
R-20 foundation walls/under slab. Teams must prove and defend their choices in terms
of performance and cost, using energy modeling software or alternative means.
Designs must be Building Net Energy Plus-ready homes, with roof or ground-mounted
photo voltaic, consistent with the trees shown on the site plan.
Mechanical and thermal systems: Mechanical system design is not required, but
the design must accomodate air or ground-source heat pumps.
Site overview: The three homes shall be designed for Lots 5, 7, and 9 on the included
plan, in the location shown on the included and approved site plan. These lots will be
dedicated to affordable housing.
Context: These three lots are part of the Burts Bog Limited Development project that:
1. Created these three affordable housing units that demonstrates green housing.
2. Also creates nine market rate housing units.
3. Permanently protects 121 acres as open space.
4.Provides an eventual link for a multi-use trail from Sandy Hill and Overlook Drive to
the New Haven and Northampton Canal Rail Trail at Route 10/Easthampton Road.
Winning proposals will be context-aware and prove that high-quality, sustainable design
and affordability are compatible.
Building on the successful small lots | BIG IDEAS competition in 2013, Green Housing
for ALL seeks to showcase designs for three affordable, sustainable housing units in
Northampton, MA. The previous competition attracted 15 entries, over 200 people to
a local gallery, and substantial print and social media coverage reaching over 10,000
people.